Japanese Buddhism Flashcards
When is it estimated that Buddhism was introduced to Japan?
552 CE
Name a key theme shared among all the schools of Japanese Buddhism that we study.
A unique feature of Japanese Buddhism is that of the three ages that occur after the wheel of the Dharma is turned. Initially, there is an era of pure Dharma, followed by one characterised by counterfeit or copied Dharma.
By the 11th century, one of economic, political and natural turmoil, and the Kamakura period that followed, Japanese Buddhists believed they could only have entered the age of Mappo, or degenerate Dharma.
The central question of Japanese Buddhism (particularly in the Pure Land and Nichiren schools), then, is how one can be a Buddhist and try to attain enlightenment in the age of Mappo.
Who is seen as the founder of Zen Buddhism as a whole (not just in Japan)? What is unique about Zen Buddhism?
The founder of Zen Buddhism is often credited as the legendary Indian monk Bodhidharma, who spread the school to China, which was then brought to Japan through monks such as Eisai and Dogen.
Building upon the flower and smile sermon, where Mahakasyapa is enlightened by a direct transmission from the Buddha, Bodhidharma is credited with saying that Mahakasyapa was enlightened by ‘a special transmission outside of the sacred texts, not founded upon words and letters. Directly points to the mind. Seeing one’s own nature, one attains Buddhahood.’
Like many Mahayana Buddhists, Zen Buddhists believe that, obscured by our own ignorance, all beings possess Buddha-nature (tathagatagarbha) which, once realised, leads to enlightenment.
Who founded the Rinzai and Soto schools of Zen Buddhism? What makes them distinct from each other? What is shared?
Rinzai Zen Buddhism was founded by the monk Eisai after his return from China in 1191. Rinzai Zen Buddhism is characterised by a dedication to upholding tradition and defending the state, (which made it popular with the upper classes) and the use of koans.
Disappointed by Eisai’s approach, Dogen founded Soto Zen Buddhism when he himself returned from China in 1227. Soto Zen Buddhism focuses in on the practise of Zazen or sitting meditation. As a result of Rinzai’s elitism and Siri’s simple practise, Soto gained more mass appeal, once being derided as ‘farmer Zen’ by critics.
Both schools share in common Zen beliefs of a universal tathagatagarbha, and that of Satori, which is the sudden, ineffable realisation of this nature.
What is the practice of a Koan in Rinzai Zen Buddhism?
The Koan in Rinzai Zen Buddhism is a short, often illogical statement that Rinzai Buddhists believe can break logical, discursive thought, leading to Satori. They are intended to be frustrating to rational thought, and are only solved by sudden insight, often coming from Zazen practises.
The practise dates back to 9th century Tang China. Koans are often given from master to student to study. The student the uses meditative practises to try and solve the Koan, after which they return to the master with their alleged solution.
What are the key beliefs of Pure Land Buddhists?
Pure Land Buddhists are defined by the belief that the Buddha Amitabha (or Amida in Japanese) created a Pure Land where enlightenment can occur easily, and the use of nembutsu as a central practice that ensures rebirth in the Pure Land after death.
In the Longer Sukhavativyuha Sutra, it is said that in the past Amida was a king named Dharmakara who renounced his throne upon encountering the Buddha at that time, and promised to become a Buddha. He made 48 vows about himself and the pure land he would create upon becoming a Buddha; if he did not fulfil these vows, he would not become one. A notable vow that he made was that those who called upon his name at least 10 times and entrusted themselves to him would be reborn in his Pure Land.
In that Sutra, the Buddha confirms that Dharmakaya did become enlightened, being called Amida.
What are the two main schools of Pure Land Buddhism in Japan? Who founded them? What are the differences between them?
Though meditative practises involving Amida had long been a part of Japanese Buddhist schools, it was Honen, an 11th century Buddhist monk, who founded a school that leaned in on Amida’s Pure Land; the school he established is called Jodo-shu or the Pure Land school.
Honen believed that in the age of Mappo, Buddhists could only become enlightened by the mercy of Amida Buddha and a rebirth in his Pure Land. The main practice of the Pure Land school was nembutsu, the recitation of the phrase ‘ namu Amida butsu’ or ‘I take refuge in Amida Buddha’. Although Nembutsu was the central practise of Jodo-shu, Honen encouraged his followers to adopt ‘auxiliary practises’, such as other forms of meditations, maintaining the Dasa Sila and good conduct; he stated that ‘while believing a man guilty of the ten evil deeds and five deadly sins may be born into the Pure Land, let us, as far as we are concerned, not commit even the smallest sins’.
A close contemporary and follower of Honen, Shinran, then built upon Jodo-shu to develop his own school of Pure Land, called Jodo-shinshu or True Pure Land. Shinran had a more radical approach than Honen, believing that the age of Mappo rendered all practises other than nembutsu futile. Shinran did not look to defend his school from the criticism of it being antinomian and attractive to the worst of sinners, and did not believe that moral behaviour had any bearing on enlightenment. Shinran also believed that ‘in the eyes of Amida there is no distinction between monk and laity; all can be enlightened’, and as such he quit being a monk and married. Shinran is also notable for stating that we cannot be enlightened by our own power (jiriki), but only through an other power (tariki), in marked contrast to most of Buddhism.
Who founded Nichiren Buddhism?
Nichiren Buddhism was founded by the 13th century monk Nichiren. Nichiren was a monk from a poor fishing background.
What is the central belief of Nichiren Buddhism?
Nichiren was acutely aware of the age of Mappo and believed that it was only by returning to and emphasising the Lotus Sutra, the ‘king of all sutras’, that people could become enlightened. Even still, it was only the essence of the Lotus Sutra, contained in its title, that could be of any use.
Nichiren also believed that the spiritual life of people were indelibly connected to their material lives; in turn, he believed that the tumultuous state of Japan as a whole during the Kamakura period was a reflection of people’s inner spiritual lives. As a result, he directly petitioned the military government to cast aside what he considered to be false, heretical forms of Buddhism (namely Pure Land and Zen Buddhism) in order to restore peace in the land.
What are the three Great Secret Laws in Nichiren Buddhism?
The first of the Great Secret Laws is faith in the Gohonzon that Nichiren created. The Gohonzon is a calligraphic mandala that which contains the full name of the Lotus Sutra, the name of the cosmic and eternal Shakyamuni Buddha, several other Bodhisattvas and the name of Nichiren himself.
The second Great Secret Law is the daimoku. The daimoku is a short chant, ‘ namu myoho renge kyo’ or ‘I take refuge in the mystic law of the Lotus Sutra’. Daimoku is the central practise of Nichiren Buddhism, and is often done in front of the Gohonzon. Nichiren and Nichiren Buddhists believe that the practise of Daimoku is all that is required for enlightenment in this present age of Mappo. Daimoku is distinct from the practise of nembutsu due to the belief that it has an immediate effect on the spiritual and even material lives of those who practise it, unlike nembutsu, which focuses on the next life.
The third Great Secret Law is the Kaidan, which is the place where the Gohonzon is stored or alternatively, the place from which a person’s devotion flows.
What is the etymology of the word “Zen”
Sanskrit: Dhyana –> Chinese: Chan –> Japanese: Zen
What is Zazen?
Zazen is sitting meditation which has focus initially on controlling the breathing and body, and can also be used as insight meditation. Some practicioners utilise sudden shocks such as being hit with a stick to give moments of satori
What is a key idea about the nature of every sentient being within Zen?
Both Rinzai and Soto Zen teach the idea of Tathagatagaba: inner Buddha nature. This is sometimes compared to “dust on a mirror”: sudden realisation (satori) can sweep away the illusion of self and desire to reveal the true Buddha nature within.
